QUINCY 

MASSACHUSETTS 


HISTORICAL 

INFORMATION 

WITH 

ROUTE  MAP 


ISSUED  BY 

QUINCY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
1921 


QUINCY 

MASSACHUSETTS 


HISTORICAL 

INFORMATION 

WITH 

ROUTE  MAP 


PRICE,  25  CENTS 


ISSUED  BY 

QUINCY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
1921 

Quincy  Chamber  of  Commerce 


Copyright,  1921 

BY  QUINCY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


FOREWORD 


Quincy,  Massachusetts,  situated  about  eight 
miles  south  of  Boston,  was  the  northerly  portion 
of  the  territory  known  in  Colonial  times  as  “The 
Mount  Wollaston”.  This  territory  was  annexed 
to  the  Town  of  Boston  in  1634,  and  incorporated 
into  a separate  township  in  1640.  This  area  of 
fifty  square  miles  was  given  the  name  of  Brain- 
tree and  included  the  present  towns  of  Braintree, 
Randolph,  Holbrook  and  the  City  of  Quincy.  In 
1708  the  Town  of  Braintree  was  divided  into  two 
Precincts  or  Parishes,  and  the  ancient  Parish  was 
known  as  the  “North  Precinct”  until  1792,  when 
it  was  set  off  into  a separate  township  and  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Quincy. 

There  were  approximately  one  thousand  inhab- 
itants in  Quincy  at  its  incorporation,  in  1792,  and 
during  the  past  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
years  its  population  has  increased  to  nearly  48,000 
persons. 

The  inhabitants  of  early  Braintree  and  Quincy 
were  from  the  old  Counties  of  Devonshire,  Lin- 
colnshire and  Essex  in  England,  and  were  mostly 
husbandmen  who,  after  their  arrival  here,  were 

3 


granted  farms,  from  which  they  obtained  their 
livelihood.  Their  trade  was  barter  with  each 
other. 

The  roads  were  few  and  poorly  constructed ; 
the  main  highway  to  Boston  went  by  way  of 
Milton  Hill  and  included  the  present  Franklin, 
School,  Hancock  and  Adams  streets. 

Tanneries  were  established  as  early  as  1700,  on 
the  banks  of  Town  Brook,  and  were  maintained 
up  to  forty  years  ago;  and  the  small  shop 
located  near  the  house  of  the  bootmaker  was 
a familiar  setting  for  the  home  of  many  of  the 
inhabitants  of  New  England. 

The  “General  Stores”  (situated  in  the  now 
“City  Square”)  furnished  the  townspeople  with 
the  necessary  “East  and  West  India  Goods” 
which  they  were  unable  to  obtain  from  their 
farms. 

The  Quincy  of  today  has  nineteen  graded 
school-buildings,  practically  all  of  which  are  mod- 
ern brick  buildings  constructed  under  the  regula- 
tions of  the  Commonwealth,  together  with  a 
High,  Industrial  and  Home  Science  schools.  The 
estimated  number  of  scholars  attending  these 
schools  is  8,621. 

There  are  thirty-three  church  societies  with- 
in the  City,  which  include  nearly  all  denomina- 
tions. 


4 


The  Thomas  Crane  Memorial  Library  is  situ- 
ated near  City  Square  and  has  numerous  branches 
throughout  the  City.  It  contains  46,923  volumes, 
with  a circulation  during  the  past  year  of  327,- 
253. 

Quincy  has  over  one  hundred  miles  of  accepted 
streets,  in  which  are  installed  water,  sewer  and 
gas  mains,  and  the  Quincy  Electric  Light  and 
Power  Company  supply  current  for  lighting  and 
power. 

The  industries  of  Quincy  are  varied  and  in- 
clude Ship-building,  Granite  Quarries  and  numer- 
ous other  manufacturing  plants  situated  in  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  City. 

In  presenting  this  map  and  the  accompanying 
text  to  the  public  it  is  the  desire  of  the  compilers 
to  create  an  interest  and  thereby  to  educate  the 
citizens  and  the  younger  generation  in  the  past 
history  of  our  City,  which  has,  through  its  dis- 
tinguished sons  and  daughters,  contributed  so 
much  to  elevate  our  Country  to  its  present  posi- 
tion among  the  Nations  of  the  World. 


5 


ROUTE  A 


1 Milton-Quincy  Line,  established  in  1638  by 
the  General  Court,  as  the  boundary  between 
Mount  Wollaston  and  Dorchester. 

2 Furnace  Brook  Parkway. 

(For  points  of  interest  on  this  Parkway,  see 
Route  D.) 

3 Nine  Mile  Stone,  erected,  1730,  by  Joseph 
Neal. 

4 School-boundary  Post,  erected  in  1838. 

5 Site  of  the  “Crosby  Tavern”,  1737. 

6 Vassall  House,  erected,  1732,  by  Major 
Leonard  Vassall.  This  estate  was  pur- 
chased, in  1787,  by  President  John  Adams 
and  occupied  as  a residence  by  him  and  later 
by  his  son,  President  John  Quincy  Adams, 
and  his  descendants  to  the  present  time. 

7 On  the  granite  library  building,  at  the  left 
of  the  President’s  Mansion,  is  a weather- 
vane,  said  to  have  been  taken  from  the  church 
known  as  “the  Chapel  of  Ease”.  The  date 
cut  into  this  vane  is  1666.  (See  No.  18.) 

8 (Edmund)  “Quincy’s  Gate”,  entrance  to  the 
ancient  Quincy  Homestead,  the  birth-place  of 
“Dorothy  Q” 


6 


9 At  the  junction  of  Adams  and  Hancock 
streets,  is  the  birth-place  of  John  Hancock, 

the  Patriot,  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, the  first  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  the  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts.  This  land  was  presented  to 
the  Town,  in  1822,  by  President  John  Adams, 
together  with  a fund  for  the  establishing  of  a 
classical  school  for  boys.  The  present  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1870,  and  the  Adams 
Academy  established  under  the  terms  of  the 
gift,  and  was  continued  for  over  thirty-five 
years. 

10  The  Ten  Mile  Stone,  for  over  seventy-five 
years,  was  embedded  within  the  wall  which 
stood  on  the  line  of  the  street  at  this  point. 
In  1911,  Hancock  Street  was  widened  along 
this  estate,  and  the  ancient  mile-stone  was 
placed  in  its  present  location. 

11  Directly  opposite  the  above  mile-stone  is  the 
site  of  the  third  school-house  of  Braintree, 
erected  in  1763  and  occupied  for  school  pur- 
poses until  1796;  and  the  following  year  the 
Town  voted  “to  sell  the  old  school-house  and 
move  it  away  from  the  ground  where  it  now 
stands”.  Present  number  1166. 

12  The  “Training  Field”.  The  bounds  of  the 
“Training  Field”,  mentioned  in  the  early 
records,  have  been  a much-discussed  ques- 
tion. A writer  of  recent  date  gave  the 
bounds  nearly  comparing  with  the  Temple, 
Hancock  and  Washington  streets  of  the 

7 


present  day ; but,  upon  examination  of  the 
records  and  the  known  location  of  the  an- 
cient Town  Buildings,  it  would  seem  that  this 
Common  originally  extended  some  distance 
to  the  south,  and  included  the  site  of  the 
“Chapel  of  Ease”,  school-house  and  the  house 
of  the  Rev.  William  Tompson,  the  first  pas- 
tor of  the  church. 

November  16,  1796,  the  Town  voted  “that 
the  school-house  shall  be  built  on  the  Train- 
ing Field”.  This  school-house  was  accord- 
ingly built  the  following  year,  and  arranged 
for  a Town  Hall  on  the  second  floor.  The 
building  was  situated  nearly  at  the  present 
junction  of  Hancock  and  Washington  streets* 

The  second  meeting-house  was  erected,  in 
1732,  on  the  Training  Field  just  south  of  the 
present  “Adams  Temple”,  which  was  erected 
in  1828,  and  within  which  is  the  crypt  con- 
taining the  remains  of  President  John  Adams 
and  his  wife  Abigail  and  also  President  John 
Quincy  Adams  and  his  wife  Louise  Cath- 
erine. Adams  Temple  is  the  home  of  the 
First  Congregational  Society  (Unitarian). 


13  Directly  opposite  the  Adams  Temple  is  the 
Town  Hall,  erected  in  1844,  and  which  has 
since  then  been  occupied  continuously  for 
the  Town  and  City  business. 

14  The  “Hancock  House”,  a noted  hostelry  of 
the  last  century,  was  situated  on  the  norther- 
ly corner  of  the  present  Hancock  and  Depot 
streets.  Demolished,  1920. 

8 


15  South  of  the  City  Hall  is  situated  the  ancient 
“Burial  Place”,  now  known  as  “Hancock 
Cemetery”,  in  which  are  buried  the  remains 
of  many  of  the  early  residents  of  Braintree 
and  Quincy,  and  the  forefathers  of  many  of 
the  most  distinguished  families  of  the  Coun- 
try. 

16  The  rear  portion  of  the  building  adjoining 
the  cemetery  on  the  south  was  erected,  in 
1816,  by  the  Town  for  use  as  a Town  House 
and  school-building,  and  was  occupied  as 
such  until  1844. 

17  Site  of  the  “Cleverly  Tavern”,  1765-1820,  the 
stable  of  which  was  occupied  by  Simon  Gil- 
let,  the  owner  of  the  stage-coach  line  between 
Quincy  and  Boston  for  over  thirty  years. 
This  site  is  now  numbered  1440  Hancock 
Street. 

18  The  “Common  Spot  of  Land”  on  which  was 
erected,  in  1680,  the  house  of  Benjamin 
Tompson  (on  site  of  present  number  1526), 
the  first  school-master  of  record  in  Brain- 
tree, the  school-house  being  located  a few 
rods  southerly  of  this  house,  and  is  prob- 
ably the  northerly  front  room  of  the  house 
numbered  1550.  Hancock  Street,  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mr.  F.  F.  Green. 

The  first  Meeting-house  (known  as  the 
“Chapel  of  Ease”)  was  erected,  in  1637,  a 
few  rods  south  of  the  above-described  school- 
house,  where  the  Rev.  John  Wheelwright 
ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  our  fore- 
- fathers. 


9 


19  The  “Mills  Tavern”,  1640,  was  situated  on 
the  site  now  numbered  1601  Hancock  Street. 

20  The  house  on  the  corner  of  Hancock  and 
Elm  streets  was  erected,  in  1794,  for  occu- 
pancy as  a tavern,  on  the  site  of  a former 
tavern  which  was  established  here  in  1756; 
a public  house  was  conducted  on  this  corner 
for  over  seventy  years. 

Elm  Street  was  known  as  the  “Road  to  the 
Landing-place”  for  over  one  hundred  years. 
The  “Town  Landing”  was  situated  about 
one-half  a mile  easterly  from  this  corner,  at 
the  foot  of  what  is  now  known  as  Elm  Place. 

21  The  building  lately  erected  at  25  School 
Street  occupies  the  site  of  the  law  office  of 
Richard  Cranch,  in  which  was  located  the 
first  post-office  in  the  town,  and  probably  the 
first  Town  Warrant  was  written  here  by  Mr. 
Cranch  in  1792. 

22  The  St.  John's  Roman  Catholic  Church, 

dedicated,  1853,  and  enlarged  in  1874. 

23  In  1726  Mr.  William  Vesey  and  his  son  Ben- 
jamin presented  to  the  Episcopal  Church  So- 
ciety this  parcel  of  land,  containing  one- 

• fourth  acre,  and  the  following  year  the  So- 
ciety erected  a Church  edifice  on  the  easterly 
portion  and  reserved  the  balance  of  the  land 
for  burial  purposes. 

In  1832  the  Society  erected  a new  Church 
edifice  at  the  easterly  corner  of  Quincy  Ave- 
nue and  Elm  Street.  This  building  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  in  1859. 

10 


24  Directly  in  the  rear  of  the  ancient  burial 
place  was  erected,  in  1855,  this  school-build- 
ing, which  was  named  the  “Adams  School”, 
in  honor  of  President  John  Adams,  and  was 
occupied  for  school  purposes  until  1912,  when 
the  “New  Adams”  building  was  erected  on 
Abigail  Avenue. 

The  old  building  is  now  occupied  by  the 
boys’  Industrial  School  of  the  City. 

25  The  Quincy  Police  Station,  situated  at  117 
School  Street.  This  building  was  erected,  in 
1829,  by  the  Town  for  use  as  a school-build- 
ing, and  was  occupied  as  such  for  over  fifty 
years,  and  has  always  been  familiarly  known 
as  the  “Stone  School-house”. 

Previous  to  its  use  by  the  Police  Depart- 
ment, it  was  occupied  a few  years  by  the  Fire 
Department  as  a Central  Fire  Station. 

26  The  “Corn  Mill”,  1640,  was  situated  at  the 
westerly  corner  of  the  present  School  and 
Pleasant  streets,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
“Fort  Square”. 

27  The  location  at  37  Franklin  Street  is  the  site 
of  the  “Ministerial  house”,  purchased  by  the 
Town,  in  1672,  for  the  occupancy  of  the  Rev. 
Moses  Fiske,  who  resided  here  until  his 
death,  when  it  was  occupied  by  his  successor, 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh.  The  old  house  is  still 
standing,  it  having  been  removed  to  the  rear 
of  the  property.  President  John  Adams  re- 
ceived a portion  of  his  classical  education  in 
this  house. 


11 


28  Site  of  the  11th  Mile-Stone,  which  recent 
writers  of  historical  data  surmise  was  used 
for  foundation  stone  in  the  house  or  barn 
erected  at  109  Franklin  Street. 

29  Directly  opposite  the  above  site,  at  the  end 
of  Payne  Street,  is  the  site  of  the  second 
school-house  of  Braintree,  erected  in  1699. 

30  The  “Adams  Houses”,  the  birth-places  of  the 
Presidents,  John  Adams  and  John  Quincy 
Adams. 

These  houses  are  now  occupied  by  the 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution  and  the  Quincy 
Historical  Society.  They  having  been  re- 
stored and  furnished  with  Colonial  fittings 
and  antiquities,  and  under  the  supervision  of 
caretakers,  are  open  daily  to  the  inspection  of 
the  public. 

31  At  206  Franklin  Street  is  an  ancient  house 
said  to  have  been  the  homestead  of  William 
Penn  (1688),  in  whose  honor  “Penn’s  Hill” 
received  its  name. 

32  On  the  hill,  at  the  rear  of  the  above-men- 
tioned house,  is  the  “New  Adams”  school- 
building, erected  in  1913. 

33  Across  Faxon  Park  Road  from  the  above 
school-building  is  Faxon  Park,  containing 
twenty-seven  acres.  This  land  was  presented 
to  the  Town,  in  1887,  by  Mr.  Henry  H.  Fax- 
on. 


12 


34  Abigail  Adams  Cairn,  erected  in  1896,  mark- 
ing the  site  from  which  Abigail  Adams  and 
her  son,  John  Quincy  Adams,  viewed  the 
burning  of  Charlestown  in  1775. 

35  Stand  Pipe  of  the  Quincy  Water  Works, 
from  which  an  excellent  view  of  the  City 
may  be  obtained. 

36  Braintree-Quincy  town  line,  beyond  which, 
near  the  crossing  of  the  Fore  River  railroad, 
is  situated  the  12th  mile-stone  on  this,  the 
Country  Highway  from  Boston  to  Plymouth. 


ROUTE  B 

37  Neponset  Bridge — Southerly  on  Hancock 
Street  (formerly  Neponset  Turnpike)  to  the 
Quincy  Shore  Drive. 

38  Along  the  shore  at  the  left,  after  passing  the 
factory  of  Bosson  & Lane,  is  an  elevation 
which  has  been  known  since  early  Colonial 
times  as  “Billing’s  Rocks”,  on  which  tradi- 
tion tells  us  was  the  home  of  Sir  Christopher 
Gardner,  a notorious  character  of  the  early 
days. 

On  the  river  at  this  point  was  established, 
in  1635,  the  first  ferry  across  the  Neponset 
River. 

39  Near  the  crossing  of  East  Squantum  Street 
is  “Mosswetusset  Hummock”,  the  former 

13 


home  of  Chickatawbut,  the  Sagamore  of  the 
Massachusetts  tribe  of  Indians,  from  which 
the  Colony,  Province  and  State  of  Massachu- 
setts derived  its  name. 

At  the  right  are  the  “Massachusetts 
Fields”,  the  planting  grounds  of  the  Indians 
previous  to  the  Colonial  Period.  These 
Fields  included  the  localities  now  known  as 
Atlantic  and  Norfolk  Downs. 

40  Southerly  along  the  Parkway  to  Apthorp 
Street,  near  the  junction  of  which  are  the  an- 
cient Slate  Quarries,  mentioned  in  the  rec- 
ords as  early  as  1687,  from  which  were  quar- 
ried the  gravestones  of  many  of  our  ances- 
tors. 

41  Near  the  junction  of  the  Parkway  and  Beach 
Street  are  the  Squantum  and  Wollaston 
Yacht  Club  houses,  and  also  the  site  of  the 
salt  works,  established  here  in  the  early  days 
and  maintained  for  over  two  hundred  years. 

42  Near  the  junction  of  the  Parkway  and  Fenno 
Street  is  the  National  Sailors’  Home,  estab- 
lished soon  after  the  Civil  War  and  until  1921 
maintained  as  a home  for  aged  or  disabled 
sailors  of  our  Navy. 

43  At  the  Parkway  Bridge  over  Black’s  Creek 
(formerly  Mount  Wollaston  River)  is  the 
tablet  erected,  in  1920,  by  the  Abigail  Phillips 
Chapter,  D.  A.  R.,  commemorating  the  land- 
ing, in  1625,  of  Capt.  Wollaston. 

14 


44  Mount  Wollaston  or  the  Merry-Mount  of 
Thomas  Morton.  This  farm  of  600  acres  was 
the  homestead  of  Col.  John  Quincy,  in  whose 
honor  the  Town  received  its  name.  On  the 
north  slope  of  this  elevation  was  located  the 
ancient  Cedar  Tree,  which  is  the  salient  feat- 
ure in  the  seal  of  the  City  of  Quincy. 

The  trunk  of  this  cedar  was  placed,  in 
1919,  at  the  right  of  the  Presidents’  chair  in 
the  Council  Chamber  in  City  Hall. 

45  Westerly  along  the  Parkway,  nearly  to  Han- 
cock Street,  at  the  left,  is  the  probable  site 
of  the  farm-house  of  William  Coddington, 
1635. 

In  1916,  workmen  employed  by  the  Sewer 
Department  of  the  City  unearthed  a foun- 
dation and  numerous  ancient  relics,  thereby 
contributing  evidence  confirming  the  tradi- 
tion that  the  house  of  William  Coddington 
was  located  in  this  vicinity. 

46  Edmund  Quincy  homestead,  erected,  1685, 
and  enlarged,  1706,  the  birth-place  of  Dorothy 
Q.  This  estate  is  owned  by  the  Common- 
wealth and  leased  by  the  Colonial  Dames, 
who  have  refitted  the  house  with  furnishings 
of  the  Colonial  Period,  and,  under  the  super- 
vision of  a caretaker,  it  is  open  to  the  public. 

47  Site  of  the  Original  Edmund  Quincy  house, 

erected,  1635,  and  demolished  in  1894. 

48  Quincy  High  School-house,  erected,  1894, 
and  enlarged,  1906. 


15 


49  Woodward  Seminary,  erected,  1891,  was 
founded  by  Dr.  Ebenezer  Woodward  as  a 
classical  school  for  Quincy-born  girls. 

9-20  See  ROUTE  A. 

50  Quincy  Avenue  (formerly  the  Braintree  and 
Weymouth  Turnpike),  laid  out,  1803.  At 
the  left  is  the  Episcopal  Church  edifice, 
erected,  1873-1874. 

51  A few  rods  south  on  the  left  is  the  Central 
Fire  Station,  erected,  1892. 

52  Three-quarters  of  a mile  beyond  is  a portion 
of  the  old  road,  laid  out,  in  1755,  through  the 
South  Common. 

53  Six  hundred  feet  south  of  the  old  road  is  the 
site  of  the  toll-gate  and  house  erected,  in 
1850,  as  a means  of  collecting  toll  from  per- 
sons using  the  “Shunpike”  (as  the  present 
Shaw  Street  was  called).  The  term  “Shun- 
pike”  refers  to  the  method  used  by  persons 
desiring  to  avoid  the  fee  required  at  the  toll- 
bridge  at  East  Braintree. 

54  One  thousand  feet  beyond  is  Newcomb 
Square  and  Hayward’s  Creek,  the  latter  of 
which  is  the  boundary  between  Quincy  and 
Braintree. 

55  One-fourth  of  a mile  along  Wendall  Road 
(which  branches  off  to  the  right  from  Quincy 
Avenue  at  Newcomb  Square)  is  located  an 
ancient  quarry,  this  being  one  of  the  first 

16 


ledges  worked  in  Quincy.  From  this  vicinity 
were  taken,  in  1752,  the  stones  used  by 
Messrs.  Hayward  and  Newcomb  in  the  erec- 
tion of  King's  Chapel  in  Boston. 

ROUTE  C 

City  Square,  through  Washington  Street,  to 
the  Quincy  Point  Bridge. 

56  On  Coddington  Street,  near  Washington 
Street,  is  the  East  Norfolk  County  Court- 
House,  erected  in  1911. 

57  Adjoining  the  above  is  the  Coddington 
School-building,  erected,  1908.  This  school 
was  named  in  honor  of  William  Coddington, 
a prominent  man  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colony,  1630-1636,  and  one  of  those  banished 
from  the  Colony  for  his  stand  in  the  Anti- 
nomian  Controversy.  He  later  settled  in 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  was  Governor  for 
many  years. 

58  The  Thomas  Crane  Memorial  Library  build- 
ing, presented  to  the  Town,  1880;  by  Mrs. 
Thomas  Crane  and  her  two  sons. 

On  the  library  grounds,  opposite  the  end 
of  Maple  Street,  is  the  site  of  the  former  resi- 
dence of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Woodward,  the  found- 
er of  the  Woodward  Seminary. 

59  The  United  States  Post  Office  building, 

erected,  1907. 


17 


60  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building,  erected,  1904. 

61  The  Quincy  Canal,  incorporated,  1825,  by 
Act  of  Legislature.  At  this  point  were 
constructed  wharves  and  buildings  which 
were  used  for  freighting  and  also  coal  and 
lumber  business  for  over  sixty  years;  dur- 
ing this  period  vessels  drawing  six  to  eight 
feet  of  water  were  floated  at  these  wharves. 

62  Along  Washington  Street  to  Pond  Street,  at 
the  foot  of  which  is  situated  the  Corn  Mill, 
erected,  1850,  on  the  site  of  a previous  one 
which  was  erected  in  1806. 

Near  the  old  mill  is  the  site  of  “Souther’s 
Ship-yard”,  1820-1860.  From  this  point  may 
be  obtained  a view  of  the  mill-pond,  which 
is  also  a part  of  the  Quincy  Canal. 

63  Along  Washington  Street  to  number  300, 
turn  right  into  Lowe  Street  to  the  Daniel 
Webster  School-building,  erected,  1916. 

64  Along  Washington  Street  to  number  600  is 
the  Washington  School-building,  erected, 
1903.  This  land  has  been  occupied  for  school 
purposes  since  1808,  when  William  Adams  of 
Hopkinton,  in  consideration  of  the  love  and 
affection  he  bore  to  the  “Old  Fields  District”, 
granted  this  parcel  of  land  for  the  use  and 
sole  purpose  of  being  improved  for  a school- 
house  lot. 

The  Town  and  City  have  by  several  pur- 
chases enlarged  the  above  lot  and  have 

18 


erected  four  school-buildings  here;  and  this 
location  is  entitled  to  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  continuous  site  of  a school-building 
for  one  hundred  and  thirteen  years. 

Nearly  opposite  the  above  school-building 
is  the  Fire  Station  for  this  district. 

65  Continue  along  Washington  Street  to  the 
Quincy  Point  Bridge,  erected,  1902.  At  the 
left  on  the  Quincy  shore  is  the  site  of  the  toll- 
house of  the  Hingham  and  Quincy  Turnpike 
Corporation,  which  Corporation,  in  1812,  laid 
out  and  constructed  the  road  from  this  point 
to  the  northerly  end  of  “Gould's  Lane"  in 
Hingham,  and  erected  bridges  across  the 
Fore  and  Back  rivers,  and  collected  toll  at 
these  points  until  1863,  when  “the  bridges  on 
the  Hingham  and  Quincy  Turnpike  were 
thrown  open  to  the  public". 

66  Across  the  river  at  the  left  is  the  site  of  the 
landing  of  the  ancient  ferry  between  Mount 
Wollaston  and  Wessagusset,  established  in 
1634,  and  this  locality  is  still  known  as 
“Ferry  Point". 

Beyond  this  point,  at  the  left,  are  the  Ger- 
mantown and  Hough's  Neck  shores. 

(See  ROUTE  E.) 

At  the  right  of  the  bridge,  on  the  Quincy 
shore,  is  the  Fore  River  Ship-building  Plant. 
(See  ROUTE  G.) 

ROUTE  D 

Granite  Bridge  over  Granite 
19 


Avenue,  Wil- 


lard  Street  to  West  Quincy,  entering  Adams 
Street  from  the  Furnace  Brook  Parkway  at 
point  2 on  Route  A. 

67  Granite  Bridge,  built,  in  1914,  replacing  the 
old  bridge,  built,  in  1837,  by  the  Proprietors, 
incorporated- under  an  Act  of  Legislature  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  a road  from  the 
old  Country  Highway  near  Josiah  Babcock's 
store  in  Milton  and  to  build  a bridge  across 
the  Neponset  River  and  thence  continue  the 
road  about  one  hundred  and  eight  rods  to  the 
Lower  Road  in  Dorchester. 

This  bridge  and  turnpike  were  operated 
under  the  toll  system  until  1865,  when  the 
Norfolk  County  Commissioners  were  author- 
ized to  lay  out  the  bridge  and  road  as  a pub- 
lic highway. 

68  Near  the  railroad  crossing,  south  of  Granite 
Bridge,  is  a private  driveway  which  enters 
the  Wollaston  Golf  Links  and  leads  nearly  to 
the  narrow  ridge  of  upland  which  extends 
from  the  railroad  track  to  the  Neponset 
River ; at  the  extreme  end  of  this  ridge  is  the 
location  of  the  “Penny  Ferry”,  1638. 

69  Bunker  Hill  Wharf,  situated  on  Neponset 
River,  at  Gulliver's  Creek,  on  the  westerly 
side  of  Granite  Avenue.  This  wharf  was  the 
terminus  of  the  First  Railway  built  in 
America.  The  Granite  blocks,  of  which  the 
Bunker  Hill  Monument  was  constructed, 
were  freighted  from  this  wharf  to  Charles- 

20 


{own.  The  present  railroad  from  this  point 
to  West  Quincy  occupies  the  ancient  road- 
bed. 


70  Near  the  crossing  of  the  railroad  at  East 
Squantum  Street,  westerly  of  Granite  Ave- 
nue, is  located  one  of  the  stone  sleepers  and 
an  iron  railway  frog  which  was  a part  of  the 
original  construction  of  the  ancient  railway. 
These  ancient  relics  were  transported,  in 
1893,  to  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago  and 
were  on  exhibition  there.  At  the  close  of 
the  fair  they  were  returned  here  and  placed 
at  the  side  of  the  track  in  their  present  loca- 
tion. 

71  East  Milton  railroad  station,  turn  left  into 
Adams  Street  for  Plymouth,  or  straight 
ahead  on  Willard  Street  to  the 

72  Gridley  Bryant  School-building;  erected  in 
1896,  and  named  in  honor  of  the  Engineer 
and  Superintendent  of  the  Granite  Railway 
Company. 

73  “Rattlesnake  Quarry",  from  which  were 
taken,  in  1827,  two  of  the  large  columns  for 
the  portico  of  the  Adams  Temple  in  City 
Square. 

74  Incline  from  the  quarry  of  the  Granite  Rail- 
way, situated  off  Bates  Avenue. 

75  Granite  Quarries  near  the  We&t  Quincy  rail- 
road station. 


21 


76  Along  Willard  Street  and  turn  right  on  Fur- 
nace Brook  Parkway  to  Bunker  Hill  Lane; 
turn  right  into  lane  to  the  Bunker  Hill  Quar- 
ry, this  being  the  quarry  from  which  the 
stone  used  in  the  construction  of  the  Bunker 
Hill  Monument  was  quarried.  At  the  right 
of  the  lane  is  to  be  seen  the  remains  of  the 
old  railway  embankment. 

77  Return  to  the  Parkway,  turn  left  and  cross 
Willard  Street  and  under  bridge  to  the  Wil- 
lard School-building,  erected,  1889. 

78  Crescent  Street  to  Hall  Cemetery,  at  the 
southerly  end  of  which,  near  the  brook,  is 

the  site  of  the  ancient  Iron  Furnace,  1643. 

79  The  tall  granite  shaft  situated  in  the  center 
of  the  cemetery  was  erected  by  Solomon  Wil- 
lard, the  Architect  and  Superintendent  of  the 
Bunker  Hill  Monument,  and  the  pioneer  of 
the  Granite  business  of  Quincy. 

Mr.  Willard  died,  in  1861,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  his  fellow-townsmen.  Adjoining 
the  Hall  Cemetery,  on  the  north,  is  the  St. 
Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  Ceme- 
tery. 

Return : 

Turn  left  on  Furnace  Brook  Parkway  to 
Adams  Street,  thence  by  Adams  Street  to 
City  Square.  (See  ROUTE  A.) 

ROUTE  E 

City  Square,  through  Coddington  and  Sea 
streets,  to  Quincy  Great  Hill  and  German- 
town. 


22 


80  Homestead  of  Col.  John  Quincy,  in  whose 
honor  our  City  received  its  name.  The 
house  of  Col.  Quincy  formerly  stood  some 
distance  in  the  rear  of  the  old  farm- 
house, still  standing,  and  is  numbered  182 
Sea  Street.  The  farm  extended  from  the 
present  cemetery  line  on  both  sides  of  Sea 
Street  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  “Wil- 
lows’', and  comprised  600  acres  of  land. 

81  At  the  junction  of  Palmer  and  Sea  streets 

is  the  site  of  the  first  school-house  in  this 
district,  erected  in  1831. 

82  Along  Sea  Street  to  the  Atherton  Hough 
School-building,  erected,  1911.  Directly  op- 
posite the  school-building  is  the  Fire  Sta- 
tion for  this  district. 

83  Continue  along  Sea  Street  to  the  Quincy 
Yacht  Club-house,  erected  in  1888. 

84  Straight  ahead  on  Sea  Avenue  to  the  sum- 
mit of  Quincy  Great  Hill,  from  which  an  ex- 
tensive view  of  miles  of  Boston  Harbor  and 
the  surrounding  country  may  be  obtained. 

85  Return  on  Sea  Street  to  the  junction  of 
Palmer  Street,  and  turn  into  Palmer  Street, 
continuing  on  the  latter  street  to  the  site  of 
the  Crane  School-house,  discontinued  in  1876 
and  afterward  moved  away. 

86  Continue  on  Palmer  Street  to  the  Shedd 
Memorial,  erected,  in  1916,  in  honor  of  Dan- 
iel Shedd,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  this  fam- 

23 


ily,  who  was  the  earliest  resident  in  this  lo- 
cality, which  was  known  as  Shedd’s  Neck  un- 
til 1755,  when  the  glass-works  were  estab- 
lished and  the  name  changed  to  German- 
town. The  glass-workers  remained  here  a 
few  years,  but,  their  business  not  proving 
successful,  they  were  forced*  to  abandon  it. 

87  Sailors’  Snug  Harbor.  This  estate  was  pur- 
chased, in  1851,  by  the  corporation,  which 
was  composed  of  some  of  the  merchants  of 
Boston,  as  a home  for  aged  or  disabled  sea- 
men of  the  merchant  service,  and  is  still 
maintained  for  this  purpose. 

88  Site  of  the  Glass-works,  established,  1755. 
In  this  cove  was  built,  in  1787,  the  ship 
“Massachusetts” ; she  was  built  for  the  Can- 
ton trade  and  carried  thirty-five  guns. 

89  Midway  between  the  wharf  and  the  street 
was  situated  the  house  of  Gen.  Joseph  Pal- 
mer, an  active  Patriot  of  the  Revolution,  who 
gave  large  sums  of  money  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  that  noble  cause  and  died  soon  after, 
penniless. 


90  Germantown  Point.  The  former  location  of 
store-houses  and  fish  flakes  established  here 
about  1833,  and  continued  for  over  forty 
years.  Quite  a few  whaling  vessels  cleared 
from  this  point  during'  that  period. 

Across  Town  River  can  be  seen  the  power 
plant  of  the  Bay  State  Street  Railway  Com- 
24 


pany,  which  now  occupies  the  land  on  which 
Deacon  George  Thomas  built  numerous  ves- 
sels during  the  years  1854-1877. 

Beyond  up  the  river  is  the  Fore  River 
Ship-building  Plant. 

ROUTE  F 

City  Square,  through  Chestnut  Street,  Revere 
Road  and  Canal  Street  to  Spear  Street. 

91  The  house  numbered  70  Chestnut  Street  now 
occupies  nearly  the  site  of  the  homestead  of 
the  Rev.  Henry  Flint,  teacher  of  the  Church 
at  Braintree,  1639-1668. 

92  The  stone  mansion  numbered  50  Chestnut 
Street  now  occupies  the  site  of  the  former 
residence  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Whitney,  pastor 
of  the  First  Church,  1800-1843.  This  house  is 
still  standing,  it  having  been  removed  to 
the  rear,  and  is  now  in  rear  of  house  num- 
bered 100  Revere  Road. 

93  The  house  of  the  Rev.  William  Tompson,  the 

first  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  1639-1666, 
stood  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  present 
Chestnut  Street,  nearly  on  the  location  of  the 
house  now  numbered  61  Chestnut  Street. 

61  Quincy  Canal.  (See  ROUTE  C.) 

94  Along  Canal  to  Spear  Street,  at  the  junction 
of  which  is  situated  probably  the  oldest  house 
standing  in  Quincy  today.  This  house  was. 
built,  in  1650,  for  John  Baxter,  and  it  re- 

25 


mained  in  the  Baxter  and  Spear  families  for 
over  two  hundred  years. 

The  Rev.  Anthony  Wibird  boarded  in  this 
house  during  his  pastorate,  1755-1800. 


ROUTE  G 

Quincy  Avenue  to  Newcomb  Square;  turn  left 
into  East  Howard  Street. 

95  Site  of  the  school-building,  erected  about 
1800. 

96  About  800  feet  in  the  rear  of  the  school- 
house  lot  is  “Fort  Rock”,  on  the  summit  of 
which  are  cut  the  points  of  the  compass. 
From  this  point  can  be  seen  an  extensive 
view  of  the  surrounding  country. 

97  The  Fore  River  Ship-building  Plant,  estab- 
lished here,  1900,  where  many  of  the  modern 
vessels  of  our  navy  were  built,  and  where 
thirty-six  of  the  seventy-one  destroyers  built, 
during  the  late  war,  by  this  Company  were 
launched. 

98  Bent’s  Creek,  on  which  was  situated,  1830, 
the  Salt  Works  operated  by  Mr.  J.  Manlius 
Sargent. 

99  The  locality  near  the  reservoir  and  Des 
Moines  Road  was  known  in  the  early  days 
as  “The  Head  of  Ship’s  Cove”;  and  the  point 
marked  (99)  was  the  starting  point  used  in 
defining  the  boundary  between  the  North 
and  South  Precincts  of  Braintree,  1708;  and 

26 


this  boundary  remained  when  Quincy  was 
set  off  in  1792  as  a separate  township. 

ROUTE  H 

Hancock  Street  north  to  Furnace  Brook  Park- 
way and  along  the  Wollaston  shore  to  East 
Squantum  Street;  turn  right  to  Squantum. 

39  On  the  right  is  “Mosswetusset  Hummock”. 

(See  ROUTE  B.) 

100  Midway  to  Squantum,  on  the  left,  is  the 
“Victory  Plant”,  erected,  during  the  World 
War,  by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  con- 
struction of  Torpedo-boat  Destroyers,  and 
whe_re  thirty-five  were  built  and  launched. 

101  Along  the  Causeway  to  the  Post  Office  turn 
sharp  to  right,  and  take  second  left  into 
Huckins  Avenue,  passing  the  Squantum 
School-building  on  the  left,  and  along  to 
Bellevue  Avenue ; then  turn  left  to  top  of 
Squantum  Hill,  where  a magnificent  view  of 
the  surrounding  country  and  the  Harbor  is 
laid  out  before  one. 

102  Along  Bellevue  Avenue  down  the  hill  to  the 
shore,  and  turn  right  into  Dorchester  Street 
to  “Chapel  Rocks”,  so  named  as  early  as 
1632,  where  another  fine  view  may  be  ob- 
tained. 

Myles  Standish  Cairn,  erected,  1895,  to 
commemorate  the  landing  of  an  exploring 
party  from  Plymouth  to  these  parts  in  1621. 

27 


103  Squaw  Rock,  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  pen- 
insula; a clearly  defined  profile  of  an  Indian 
Head  may  be  seen  at  the  outer  end  of  this 
rock. 

4 104  Returning  to  Atlantic  Street,  to  the  site  of 
the  ancient  Glover  Homestead,  1643.  This 
estate  was  held  in  the  Glover  family  for  over 
275  years. 

105  Turn  right  into  Atlantic  Street,  then  left  in- 
to Newbury  Avenue,  to  the  Quincy  School- 
building, erected,  1906. 

Along  Newbury  Avenue,  and  turn  left  into 
East  Squantum  Street  and  right  into  Faxon 
Road  to  the  Francis  W.  Parker  School- 
building, erected,  1916. 

40  Turn  left  into  Billings  Road,  then  left  into 
Apthorp  Street  to  the  Slate  Quarries.  Thence 
into  the  Quincy  Shore  Drive  to  City  Square. 
(Over  ROUTE  B.) 

ROUTE  J 

Leave  Route  A at  700  Adams  Street,  and  enter 
Beale  Street,  continuing  on  Beach  Street 
to  the  Quincy  Shore  Drive. 

106  Third  Hill  may  be  approached  by  Summit 
Avenue.  In  1903,  the  Metropolitan  Water 
Commission  selected  this  site  for  the  loca- 
tion of  a reservoir  and  water  tower.  This 
hill  being  the  highest  elevation  in  this  vicini- 
ty, one  obtains  a magnificent  view  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  water-front  of  our 
City. 


28 


107  Along  Beale  Street,  at  the  left,  is  the  Wollas- 
ton School-building,  erected,  1912. 

108  Continue  on  Beale  Street,  passing  the  Wol- 
laston Fire  Station  on  the  left. 

109  In  Hutchinson  Square,  near  the  Fire  Sta- 
tion, is  a bronze  tablet  erected  in  memory  of 
Mistress  Anne  Hutchinson  of  Colonial  days. 

110  From  the  bridge  over  the  railroad  track  can 
be  seen  the  manufacturing  plant  of  the  Tu- 
bular Rivet  and  Stud  Company,  near  which 
is  the  site  occupied  by  the  farm-house  of  the 
Rev.  John  Wilson,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Bos- 
ton Church,  1630,  and  also  the  first  grantee 
of  land  within  the  present  bounds  of  Quincy. 

111  Continue  on  Beale  Street,  and  cross  Hancock 
Street  into  Beach  Street;  at  the  right,  near 
the  reverse  curve,  is  the  former  residence  of 
the  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy,  Mayor  of  Boston 
and  President  of  Harvard  College.  This 
house  erected,  1770. 

112  Along  Beach  Street,  at  the  left,  is  the  Massa- 
chusetts Fields  School-building,  erected, 
1896. 

Continue  on  Beach  Street  to  Quincy  Shore 
.Drive. 

NOTE — (To  City  Square,  see  ROUTE  B.) 

ROUTE  K 

Through  the  Granite  Quarries  in  the  “North 
Common”. 


29 


From  City  Square  south  on  Route  A to  the  Corn 
Mill  (26),  along  School  Street;  enter  Granite 
Street,  and  at  the  three  corners  take  right- 
hand  road  (Quarry  Street)  to  the  Granite 
Quarries  which  are  situated  at  intervals 
along  the  entire  length  of  the  street. 

113  On  the  right,  beyond  the  crown  of  the  hill, 
is  Mount  Ararat,  from  which  an  extensive 
view  of  Quincy  may  be  obtained. 

Proceed  on  Quarry  Street  down  the  hill ; 
turn  right  on  Furnace  Brook  Parkway 
(ROUTE  D),  to  Adams  Street  (ROUTE 
A),  to  City  Square. 


30 


DATE  DUE 


UNIVERSITY  PRODUCTS,  INC.  #859-5503 


^ O X Tj 


9031  027 


08529  9 


E.  O.  COCKAYNE,  BOSTON 


